What is very interesting about this song is the story is tranferable to any time period, as it operates as a metaphor. It is a story that applies in the present, where replacing governments can have behaviour more questionable than that of the replaced. The King is Dead, Long Live the King. It certainly has a circle of life aspect, and has the underpinning that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The one who initially questions the leader ends up by a twist of fate to be a potential leader, himself. When alone "...he talked with water, and then with the vine" can have many meanings. It has religious connotations for me as much of Genesis' earlier work does. He steels himself so that he can make the decision to lead, initially by the drinking of water, then by the drinking of wine, which has always been referred to as the product of the vine. It is left to the reader / listener to decide whether he himself turns that water into wine or convinces himself that he does or just finds both. In any event he reaches a point where he has gained the courage or delusion to lead. It is arguable that he does not see himself completely as a god, as he realises that he may be leading his people "more likely to death" than "to glory". However, he certainly reaches a point where he is prepared to be the adored leader, without qualifications.
When he views another who "Stood up, and vanished into air" at the end of the song this again is a metaphor for the selling of one's soul for personal gain. It is the soul that vanishes, in the person he witnesses, just as it vanished in him.
It's simple really. 'One for the Vine' is a humorous title based on the English phrase 'One for the Road', which means, basically, have a last drink before leaving on your long, tiring journey home (usually from a pub, but in this song from a frozen wasteland!). Here, it's twisted to refer to the main protagonist contemplating what to do about his new found situation first with water and then, of course, with wine, which gives him what is usually referred to as the 'Dutch Courage' (alcoholically induced fearlessness) to lead these people on their quest.
It's simple really. 'One for the Vine' is a humorous title based on the English phrase 'One for the Road', which means, basically, have a last drink before leaving on your long, tiring journey home (usually from a pub, but in this song from a frozen wasteland!). Here, it's twisted to refer to the main protagonist contemplating what to do about his new found situation first with water and then, of course, with wine, which gives him what is usually referred to as the 'Dutch Courage' (alcoholically induced fearlessness) to lead these people on their quest.
I don’t think it’s that simple. I think it’s a clever pun on "the vine" and "divine". If you read/hear it as "divine", he acts much like Jesus praying in Gethsemane — which again means he is about to be sacrificed. And that makes sense in the context of the song, doesn’t it?
I don’t think it’s that simple. I think it’s a clever pun on "the vine" and "divine". If you read/hear it as "divine", he acts much like Jesus praying in Gethsemane — which again means he is about to be sacrificed. And that makes sense in the context of the song, doesn’t it?
What is very interesting about this song is the story is tranferable to any time period, as it operates as a metaphor. It is a story that applies in the present, where replacing governments can have behaviour more questionable than that of the replaced. The King is Dead, Long Live the King. It certainly has a circle of life aspect, and has the underpinning that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The one who initially questions the leader ends up by a twist of fate to be a potential leader, himself. When alone "...he talked with water, and then with the vine" can have many meanings. It has religious connotations for me as much of Genesis' earlier work does. He steels himself so that he can make the decision to lead, initially by the drinking of water, then by the drinking of wine, which has always been referred to as the product of the vine. It is left to the reader / listener to decide whether he himself turns that water into wine or convinces himself that he does or just finds both. In any event he reaches a point where he has gained the courage or delusion to lead. It is arguable that he does not see himself completely as a god, as he realises that he may be leading his people "more likely to death" than "to glory". However, he certainly reaches a point where he is prepared to be the adored leader, without qualifications.
When he views another who "Stood up, and vanished into air" at the end of the song this again is a metaphor for the selling of one's soul for personal gain. It is the soul that vanishes, in the person he witnesses, just as it vanished in him.
It's simple really. 'One for the Vine' is a humorous title based on the English phrase 'One for the Road', which means, basically, have a last drink before leaving on your long, tiring journey home (usually from a pub, but in this song from a frozen wasteland!). Here, it's twisted to refer to the main protagonist contemplating what to do about his new found situation first with water and then, of course, with wine, which gives him what is usually referred to as the 'Dutch Courage' (alcoholically induced fearlessness) to lead these people on their quest.
It's simple really. 'One for the Vine' is a humorous title based on the English phrase 'One for the Road', which means, basically, have a last drink before leaving on your long, tiring journey home (usually from a pub, but in this song from a frozen wasteland!). Here, it's twisted to refer to the main protagonist contemplating what to do about his new found situation first with water and then, of course, with wine, which gives him what is usually referred to as the 'Dutch Courage' (alcoholically induced fearlessness) to lead these people on their quest.
I don’t think it’s that simple. I think it’s a clever pun on "the vine" and "divine". If you read/hear it as "divine", he acts much like Jesus praying in Gethsemane — which again means he is about to be sacrificed. And that makes sense in the context of the song, doesn’t it?
I don’t think it’s that simple. I think it’s a clever pun on "the vine" and "divine". If you read/hear it as "divine", he acts much like Jesus praying in Gethsemane — which again means he is about to be sacrificed. And that makes sense in the context of the song, doesn’t it?